Chapter 183 Sister Elara

Edgar sat quietly inside the carriage, his back resting against the cushioned seat.

Across from him, Sister Elara sat with her hands folded neatly over her lap.

She occasionally looked outside through the small window, watching the scenery pass by, but she rarely looked directly at Edgar.

The silence wasn’t uncomfortable for Edgar. He was perfectly capable of sitting quietly for hours.

For Elara, however, things seemed different.

She occasionally shifted in her seat, adjusted the sleeves of her robes, or glanced toward Edgar before quickly looking away again.

Eventually, Edgar turned his gaze toward her. “Do you have some kind of problem with me?”

Elara froze for a moment before she quickly shook her head. “No! Of course not.”

Her sudden response made Edgar raise an eyebrow. “You seem nervous.”

Elara’s cheeks became slightly red. She lowered her gaze for a moment before letting out a gentle chuckle.

“It’s just…” She hesitated. “I’m not used to being around men.”

Edgar blinked. “Is that not allowed?”

Elara looked at him with surprise before quickly shaking her head.

“No, not really.” She smiled softly. “My Goddess doesn’t forbid her worshippers from being around other gender.”

Edgar nodded slowly. “I see.”

The silence returned for a few moments.

Edgar looked outside the window, watching the distant landscape slowly change as the carriage continued toward the Fortress.

After thinking for a while, he looked back at her. “Have you always lived in the Soragon Bazaar?”

Elara shook her head. “No. I came here a few years ago.”

“Where did you live before that?”

“I grew up in Doroja City.”

Edgar’s eyebrows rose. “Doroja City?”

Elara nodded.

“Yes.”

There was a faint smile on her face as she remembered the place.

“Doroja City was beautiful. It was much larger than Soragon Bazaar, with wide streets, tall stone buildings, and a huge marketplace that was always filled with people.”

She looked toward the window.

“But I didn’t grow up with a family there.” Her expression became softer. “I lived in an orphanage.”

She spoke about it without much sadness in her voice, although there was a hint of nostalgia hidden beneath her words.

“The orphanage was located near one of the smaller districts of the city.” A small smile appeared on her lips. “I spent most of my childhood there.”

Edgar remained silent, listening.

“Eventually, I joined the church and began working there. That’s how I became a nun.” She turned her gaze back toward Edgar.

“When I eventually came to Soragon Bazaar, I decided to stay here.”

Edgar nodded.

“I see.” He looked outside again before asking another question. “If you don’t mind me asking, how far away is Doroja City?”

Elara thought for a moment. “Almost three days from here by carriage.”

“Three days?”

She nodded. “It depends on the road and the weather, of course.”

Edgar leaned back. “That’s farther than I expected.”

Elara looked at him curiously. “Have you never traveled outside this region?”

Edgar chuckled softly.

“Not really.” He looked toward the road ahead. “I planned to eventually.”

Elara smiled. “Perhaps you should.”

Edgar nodded. “I probably will.”

Once again, silence settled between them.

This time, however, it didn’t feel quite as awkward as before.

—-

Hours had passed.

The carriage finally entered the Fortress before passing through the gates and continuing into the inner grounds.

When it eventually stopped, Edgar was the first one to step outside. He looked around briefly before turning back toward the carriage.

Elara was still sitting inside.

Edgar extended his hand toward her. “Careful.”

Elara hesitated for a moment before placing her hand in his.

He helped her step down from the carriage.

The moment her feet touched the ground, she stopped.

Her eyes slowly widened as she looked around.

The Fortress was nothing like the ruined territory she had imagined.

Even though some parts of the Fortress still showed signs of the recent battle, there was an unmistakable sense of life within the territory.

Elara slowly turned her head. “So this is your Fortress…”

Edgar nodded. “Welcome.”

She remained silent for another few seconds before smiling. “It’s much better than I expected.”

Edgar chuckled. “Is that supposed to be a compliment?”

“It is.”

Before Edgar could say anything else, he noticed two familiar figures walking through the nearby area.

Semele and Hera were approaching from the other side of the road.

Both of them noticed Edgar at almost the same time.

Hera immediately quickened her pace. “Edgar!”

She walked directly toward him and wrapped her arms around him.

Edgar smiled and hugged her back. After a moment, they separated.

Hera looked toward Elara curiously.

Edgar noticed her expression. “This is Sister Elara. She’ll be staying here for a while.”

“She is Hera.” He paused before introducing her properly. “She’s also my partner.”

Hera’s face immediately became slightly red.

Edgar noticed it but didn’t understand why. ‘We already fucked lady.’

Elara, on the other hand, smiled warmly and bowed slightly. “It’s nice to meet you.”

Hera quickly returned the greeting. “It’s nice to meet you too.”

Semele finally reached them. Her crimson eyes moved from Edgar to Elara.

She studied the young nun for several seconds before looking back at Edgar.

“So you brought yourself a concubine?”

Edgar’s gave her a look. “Don’t call her that.”

Semele raised an eyebrow. “Why?”

“Because she’s not.”

Elara remained silent, instead of reacting to Semele’s words, she continued staring at her.

Her blue eyes stayed fixed on Semele’s face as if she were trying to remember something.

Edgar noticed her behaviour. “Elara?”

Her gaze remained on Semele as she finally spoke. “Do I know you?”

Semele’s expression didn’t change.

“No.” She shook her head calmly. “I’ve never seen her before.”

Elara continued looking at her for another moment before eventually lowering her gaze.

Edgar narrowed his eyes slightly. There was something strange about her reaction.

However, before he could ask about it, Hera spoke. “Should I show her around?”

Edgar looked toward her. “Yes. Give her a tour of the Fortress.”

Hera nodded.

“Alright.” She turned toward Elara and smiled. “Come with me.”

Elara nodded and followed her.

Semele also began walking alongside them, leaving Edgar standing behind for a moment.

Edgar looked at the three women walking away before remembering something.

He picked up Elara’s small travel bag. “You can stay in my house while you’re here.”

Elara turned around. “Your house?”

Edgar nodded. “It has enough space.”

She smiled politely. “Thank you, Lord Edgar. I’ll do my best to help you while I’m here.”

Edgar nodded. “I’ll leave the rest to you.”

He carried her bag toward the house before following the path leading inside.

After placing her belongings in one of the available rooms, Edgar walked back outside.

He had several things to deal with.

His eyes soon landed on Andrew, who was standing near one of the roads and giving instructions to a group of workers.

The young boy noticed Edgar almost immediately.

A smile appeared on his face.

“Young Master, Edgar!” Andrew hurried over. “I did what you asked.”

Edgar nodded. “Good.”

He followed him toward the eastern side of the Fortress.

They walked past several workers before eventually reaching a large structure surrounded by stone walls.

The Tower of Souls stood silently before them.

Edgar stopped in front of it. Hundreds of Nightmare corpses were currently being processed within the Tower.

Their bodies were slowly being refined into items and Soul Essence, while the Tower continued its work without stopping.

Edgar stared at the structure for several moments.’It has become much more useful than I originally expected.’

It had become one of the most important structures in his territory.

Edgar knew that it wasn’t enough. ‘I’ll need to upgrade it eventually.’

His gaze slowly shifted away from the Tower.

Ten large containers stood nearby and each one was carefully sealed.

Inside them was dark red blood. Nightmare blood.

The blood had been collected from the corpses of the Nightmares killed during the recent battle.

Edgar looked at them with a faint smile.

The ritual he had discovered still had several requirements he needed to fulfill, but one of the most important ones was already being prepared.

The blood of ten Nightmares.

His fingers lightly touched the surface of one container. ‘I’m getting closer.’

Edgar looked toward the Tower of Souls once again. Soon, his own strength would begin to rise as well.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

‘Once I complete the ritual…’ His eyes narrowed slightly. ‘I’ll become even stronger.’

Behind him, Andrew continued explaining the work that had been completed.

But Edgar barely heard him.

His attention remained fixed on the Tower of Souls and the ten containers of Nightmare blood.

The battle against the Nightmare King had shown him just how dangerous this world could be.

Edgar had no intention of remaining at his current level.

He had a Fortress to expand, enemies to deal with, mysteries buried beneath his territory, and an entire future to build.

…..And for that, he needed power.